Renowned filmmaker and cinematographer Shaji Neelakantan Karunakaran, also popularly known as Shaji N Karun passed away at the age of 73 on Monday. Shaji also served as chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation.
He started his career as a cinematographer where his innovative use of light and rhythm in classics like Kummaty, Thampu, Esthappan, and Yavanika earned him praise. His debuted as director with Piravi which was a heart wrenching story about a father’s search for his missing son during the Emergency which not only won him the National Award for Best Director but also earned a Caméra d’Or Special Mention at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. His second film, Swaham, became only the second Indian film after Salaam Bombay! to compete in Cannes’ main competition section.
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With Vanaprastham, starring Mohanlal earned him international recognizance. His other films like Kutty Srank, Swapaanam, and Olu continued to explore human emotions with a unique cinematic language.
Shaji was born on January 1, 1952, in Kollam, Kerala. His family later shifted to Thiruvananthapuram, where he completed his schooling at Palkulangara High School and then pursued higher education at University College. In 1971, he joined Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and graduated in 1974 with a gold medal in cinematography.
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